Kind volunteers have helped members of East Durham Positive Inclusion Partnership's (Edpip) Out of the Shadow's group to raise almost £14,500 for a trip to Disneyland Paris.

The final donation was made by Metro Radio's Cash for Kids, which has just awarded the group £1,665 to buy coats, scarves, gloves and a locking medical box for the trip.

Alison Donoghue, Edpip Manager, said: "The support we have received from around the district has been extremely humbling.

"It is particularly inspiring to think people have continued to support us to such an extent during the credit crunch.

"The children and young people can't believe they are actually going to Disney.

"This could well be the only opportunity that some of them ever get to travel abroad."

Out of the Shadows members started fund-raising for the trip in July, when they took part in a sponsored wheelchair push. They followed the event with a supermarket bag pack that raised £700.

Supporters have included staff and customers at Mitchell's bar in Seaham, who collected £3,000, and four members of Easington Youth Forum and Easington Youth Group whose sponsored C2C bike ride raised a further £400.

Easington Local Strategic Partnership, meanwhile, donated £1,000 to the appeal, and a charity dinner and auction hosted by Seaham Hall raised more than £4,500.

Shoppers at Asda in Seaham paid £760 when members of Edpip packed bags, and Dawdon Adventure Club gave £763 it had raised.

The group, who will be accompanied by unpaid volunteers, will fly to France next month.